In the evening, Ann Packet, looking a little scared, said—
"Here's a gentleman come to see you. It's not quite right for him to come up, I'm thinking."
"Who is it?"
"Mr. Hinchford."
"Old Mr. Hinchford?"
"No, the young one."
Mattie, even with the scarlatina, could blush more vividly.
"Mr.—Mr. Sidney!" she gasped. "Oh! he mustn't come in here."
"Mustn't he, though!" said the deep voice of Sidney, from the other side of the room. "Oh! he's not at all bashful, Mattie."
Sidney Hinchford came into the room and walked straight to the bed where Mattie was lying—where Mattie was crying just then.